Dropping a 3-2 decision on the road Friday night at Eugene, Bryce Gehlert’s Belle Tiger baseball team returned to action Monday night inside the friendly confines of Tiger Field hosting Steelville’s Cardinals.

Along with an outright Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) title on the line, Belle’s Tigers were also looking to give seniors Ruger Schlottog, Lukas Smith, Edward Weida, Glayden Woodruff and Jon Valley a senior-night victory.

Leading 2-0 after two innings, Belle plated seven runs over the next two frames giving Tiger starting pitcher Hank Stratman all the run support he needed during Belle’s 9-0 shutout victory over the visiting Cardinals.

Earning the complete-game win, Stratman allowed no runs on three hits with no walks and 16 strikeouts.

Pitching around a hit batter in the top of the first inning, Stratman gave his Tiger offense a chance to break the scoreless tie in the bottom half of the inning.

Starting a two-out rally with a double, Stratman eventually scored on a Luke Rohrer RBI double putting Belle on top 1-0 through one inning of baseball.

Striking out the side after allowing a one-out single, Stratman kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard in the top of the second inning.

Belle doubled their lead in the bottom of the second when Ryder Butler singled and scored on a Cardinal error pushing the Tiger lead to 2-0.

Proceeding to once again strike out the side in the top of the third inning, Stratman’s quick frame got the Tiger offense back in the batter’s box.

Gage Terrill led the bottom of the third off with a walk before Garrett Gehlert singled setting up Stratman with two runners on and no outs.

Recording his second double in as many at bats, Stratman drove in Terrill and Gehlert doubling Belle’s lead to 4-0.

Stratman later scored his second run of the game on a RBI ground out off the bat of Rohrer.

Cameron Rehmert capped Belle’s four-run bottom of the third inning singling and scoring on a Cole Trainor RBI double.

Working around another one-out single in the top of the fourth inning, Stratman benefited from a caught stealing keeping his bid for a senior-night shutout intact.

Woodruff walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning before Terrill blasted a two-run home run over the left-field fence bumping Belle’s lead to 8-0.

Rohrer then singled with one out before scoring on a Rehmert RBI single giving Belle their final margin of victory.

Friday night in Cole County against Eugene’s Eagles, Belle led 2-1 after five innings before Eugene plated two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning sending the Tigers back home on the short end of a 3-2 final score.

Stratman led the game off against Eugene with a single before Terrill was hit by a pitch putting two runners on with one out for Terrill.

Recording a RBI single through the right side of the infield, Rohrer gave Belle an early 1-0 lead.

Rehmert then singled to load the bases for Cooper Durbin.

Grinding out a seven-pitch plate appearance, Durbin drew a bases-loaded walk allowing Terrill to score giving Belle a 2-0 advantage before Eugene’s first turn at the plate.

A walk, hit and an error allowed the Eagles to get one of those runs back with Belle clinging to a 2-1 lead after one inning.

Belle had a golden opportunity to add to their lead in the top of the second inning.

Hunter Wulff singled before walks to Stratman and Terrill loaded the bases with two outs.

Grounding into an inning-ending fielder’s choice, Belle was not able to add to their one-run lead.

Scoring ceased until the bottom of the sixth inning rolled around in Cole County.

Eugene turned an error, hit, walk and a hit batter into two runs giving them a 3-2 lead after six innings.

Belle gave themselves a shot to get those two runs back in the top of the seventh inning.

Terrill and Rohrer delivered back-to-back singles with one out before both runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch.

Seeing the game end on a fly out in the infield, Belle opened the May portion of their schedule with a tough road loss.

Pitching all six innings, Gehlert took the hard-luck loss allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks to go with eight strikeouts.

Traveling into Miller County last night (Tuesday) to face St. Elizabeth’s Hornets, Belle will host Capital City’s Cavaliers tomorrow (Thursday) night at Tiger Field with a 5 p.m., first pitch.

Belle will then close their regular season on Monday, May 12 with a Maries County diamond showdown on the road at Vienna City Park against the Eagles with a 5 p.m., first pitch.